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Youth Writing Conference

Join us for next year's conference on May 10, 2019. Registration will open in March.

What

The Center for Writing in College, Career, and Community (CWCCC) and the Ozarks Writing Project (OWP) invites students in grades 5-8 to the Missouri State University campus to the tenth annual middle school writing conference. Students will participate in four interactive writing workshops.

Students will attend four workshops plus an opening session in Plaster Student Union (PSU) with a welcome by MSU President Clif Smart. This session, 8:50–9:15 AM, is open to the public.

When

Friday, May 10, 2019
8:45 AM – 2:30 PM

Where

The day will begin with check-in and an opening session in the PSU Theater. Workshop sessions will be held in Strong Hall, a beautiful four-story building located just off Holland Avenue. It will comfortably hold all our classes, giving attendees the ability to mingle in one central location.

Information for Teachers & Parents

All workshops and lunch will be in Strong Hall. It is Finals Day--no classes are scheduled--so few students will be on campus.

Follow your district’s policy regarding the required number of teacher chaperones. You will not have to accompany your students all day long--there will be plenty of supervision; teachers generally check-in with their students at lunch time.

You are encouraged to participate in sessions. Session materials will be available online following the conference.

Wi-fi will be available to teachers.

On or before May 7, you will receive student schedules, parking and drop-off information, and all necessary information to have a productive day.

Like the Ozarks Writing Project on FACEBOOK for updates on presenters and sessions. #OWP_YourStory

Can I come without my teacher? Although we encourage you to attend with your teacher and classmates, it is possible for you to attend alone. Just indicate that you will be attending on your own on the registration form, and give us a parent/guardian email address so that information can be sent directly to you. You will get detailed information about parking and check-in on or before May 7. We have lots of volunteers to assist you. It's also Study Day on campus and no classes will be in session; it's a quiet day at MSU.

Parking, Drop-off and Pick-up

The day begins in Plaster Student Union (PSU). Check-in will take place at the entrance of the PSU theater, on the second floor of PSU, from 8:15 to 8:45. The theater is in the southwest corner of PSU. (People arriving from Bear Blvd enter the building on the second floor; people arriving from the Carrington shuttle stop enter the first floor and take the stairs to the second floor.)

Parking by car or van on campus: If you paid online for a parking permit, you will receive a printable permit and a campus map by email. Place the permit on your dash and park in any yellow lot. Lot 22 on the south side of Grand is recommended. You will take the underpass and walk directly north to PSU. You may also park in Bear Park South (38) and take the red shuttle. The red shuttle takes you to Carrington just south of PSU. Parking in this location is very close to Strong Hall where dismissal takes place.

Parent drop-off and pick-up: Enter the campus on Bear Blvd (East Monroe) off of National. Take the first left on Florence and park in metered parking or wait and watch your student walk to PSU which is located at the bear statue. A volunteer will be waiting at the entrance to watch for and greet students. Pick-up your student at 2:30 from the circle drive west of Strong Hall. Please be aware that the Springfield public school opposite Strong Hall is dismissing students at the same time so traffic may be congested.

Bus drop-off and parking: Buses do not need permits. Buses will enter campus on Bear Blvd (East Monroe) and drop-off students at the second left (MSU busway, one block past the Florence St stop sign). Volunteers will be waiting at the drop-off point. Buses proceed to Lots 39, 44, 51, or 52 for parking. Lot 39 has been enlarged to accomodate a large number of buses. Buses can move to Parking Lot 20 on Holland St after 2 p.m. (buses parking there before 2:00 will be ticketed) to pick up students at the 2:30 p.m. dismissal time.

Photo Likeness Release

Attendance at this conference grants Missouri State University (including, without limitation, the Center for Writing in College, Career, and Community, College of Arts and Letters, and Ozarks Writing Project) permission to use photos and written work from the conference in promotional features and fundraising for the Writing Project. Contact Katie Stinnett at katiestinnett@missouristate.edu to opt out of appearing in photos or sharing student work.
For parents: As parent/ legal guardian of a participant at the writing conference, I irrevocably consent to and authorize the use by Missouri State University, its officers and employees, ("University") of the his or her image, voice and/or likeness as follows: The University shall have the right to photograph, publish, re-publish, adapt, exhibit, perform, reproduce, edit, modify, make derivative works, distribute, display or otherwise use or reuse the participant's image, voice and/or likeness in connection with any product or service in all markets, media or technology now known or hereafter developed in University's products or services, as long as there is no intent to use the image, voice and/or likeness in a disparaging manner. University may exercise any of these rights itself or through any successors, transferees, licensees, distributors or other parties, commercial or nonprofit. The participant acknowledges receipt of good and valuable consideration in exchange for this Release, which may simply be the opportunity to represent the University in its promotional and advertising materials as described above.

Select thumbnail to view campus map.

Accomodations

If you are planning on staying in Springfield overnight, there are a few nearby hotel options listed below.